The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CWC Group, restating its commitment to holding the annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, taking place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from November 6 to 9, 2017.
Under the terms of the MoU, NCDMB and CWC, alongside Nigerian partner, Levmora Services, say they will collaborate to deliver greater value through PNC.
This will be achieved by further engaging with the relevant government parastatals and private sector players, while ensuring that pertinent issues surrounding Nigerian content regulation and implementation to be discussed at the conference unlock opportunities, and drive progress in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“I look forward to welcoming oil and gas industry players to what promises to be a useful and impactful gathering,” said Simbi Kesiye Wabote, executive secretary, NCDMB, in a statement issued on July 7.
PNC plans to provide a platform for senior industry stakeholders to discuss the current challenges being faced within the market, explore solutions and define action points over the next 12 to 18 months.
The CWC Group, having produced conferences and exhibitions for the Nigerian oil and gas industry for over 17 years, has been severally questioned about its level of Nigerian content compliance due to the fact that it is based in the United Kingdom and stages or manages events for Nigeria.
Following the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICDA), the CWC Group launched the PNC conference in 2011.
Through their partnership and consultation with the NCDMB, beginning from 2013, CWC was required to increase domestic capacity through partnerships with local companies, training of indigenous personnel and increasing the number of local suppliers patronized.
Over the last 4 years, CWC is said to have complied with the list of requirements outlined by the NCDMB.
This has been in the areas of forming partnerships with indigenous companies, including Levmora Services and Proxima Energy.
In the latter part of 2013, CWC formed a partnership with AEG and has since trained AEG’s staff to take over roles previously domiciled in the UK.
This has reduced the number of UK based staff travelling to Nigeria to execute CWC events by an average of 58 percent, with internationally based employees being shadowed by AEG staff.
Across all events, 98 percent of suppliers engaged in the preparation and execution of the event are indigenous.
“Over the past 5 years, we have made some real strides in developing capacity within the events space for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, thanks to the support of the NCDMB.
“There is still work to be done and CWC remain committed to creating platforms for senior decision makers to devise strategies that will steer Nigeria’s energy industry towards sustainable growth,” said Wemimo Oyelana, who is the vice president, production, at CWC.
